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Putumayo’s New “Beat”

By Dan Storper, September 7, 2011  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Dan Storper
Read on for a chance to win a 4-CD set from Putumayo’s Beat series and Groove series. Dan Storper is the CEO and Founder of Putumayo World Music. Putumayo continues its exploration of contemporary world music with the launch of a new "Beat" series, which follows in the footsteps of the successful “Groove” series. New releases African Beat and Latin Beat highlight the exciting blends of world music and electronica, R&B and more coming out of studios in Europe, America, Africa and Latin America. These releases are available at most Whole Foods Market stores. On Latin Beat, we explore funky new blends of Latin music, in which electronic beats, hip-hop flavors, DJ remixes and cutting-edge grooves are fused effortlessly with Colombian cumbia, Cuban son, Mexican banda, Spanish flamenco, Afro-Peruvian roots music and more. Cuban band Moneda Dura adds the voice of Buena Vista Social Club legend Ibrahim Ferrer to a catchy breakbeat sound. Colombians Jontre and Mariposa Solar demonstrate how effortlessly groundbreaking Latin musicians are using traditional rhythms in a contemporary pop context. Spain's Digitano takes Gypsy flamenco instrumentation and layers on electronic effects. These collaborations between modern Cuban groups and Cuban legends provide insight into how Latin music has managed to stay as popular and relevant today as it was 50 years ago. On African Beat, Putumayo features artists who are as likely to have traditional African drumming, soukous and mbaqanga on their IPods as they are the latest European dubstep and R&B. These tracks reveal that even in this globalized, hi-tech world, the divide between the past and the future is not as great as it may seem. Songs by musicians with deep connections to their roots, including Vieux Farka Touré and Les Barons, are remixed and reworked by Western DJs. The music of South Africa's Busi Mhlongo, Senegal's Lëk Sèn and Malian/French group Donso reveals how hip-hop, electronica and other urban musical styles have been incorporated into traditional African music, taking it in surprising new directions. We hope you give these new sounds a listen. Do you have a favorite song or group that showcases collaboration between two distinct music styles? Let us know what it is in the comments below for a chance to win a 4-CD set from Putumayo’s Beat series (African Beat and Latin Beat) and Groove series. (Arabic Groove and Turkish Groove). Comment by September 21st for a chance to win. We’ll choose one comment at random to receive the CDs.
Category: Music

 

1,011 Comments

Comments

Linda says ...
Love the drumming. Would love to hear the new releases.
09/14/2011 8:49:02 PM CDT
Jeanne Gersony says ...
I have Putumayo presents "African Groove''...I love it, I listen to it while I run, I also am a salsa, swing, and bellydancer, so I appreciate the African roots of those dances....I'd love to win this set of music!
09/14/2011 8:49:12 PM CDT
Kristie says ...
I don't have a favorite, but I love Putumayo. I use some of these CDs in my classroom. I teach french and love exposing the students to various music from all over the French speaking world. It would be awesome to do a lesson on the bending of sounds and musical styles...
09/14/2011 8:49:30 PM CDT
Mary says ...
I have quite a few Putumayo CDs and enjoy them all!
09/14/2011 8:49:34 PM CDT
Kari Steen says ...
rhythm is so important! one of the basic foundations of music, and also of daily life. Exposure to the different world sounds is a beautiful gift, for each of our heritages and nationalities had a very different way of interpreting their life & history through music.
09/14/2011 8:49:52 PM CDT
Christine Chaney says ...
I love the groove series.
09/14/2011 8:50:17 PM CDT
Maria says ...
I am in love with the music that Putumayo puts on their CDs. I buy them for my soul and have a pretty nice collection of them already. This music just makes me feel good whenever I listen to it. Would love to have the African Beat and Latin beat, I am sure it is great for dancing and good mood:)
09/14/2011 8:50:47 PM CDT
Rae Kelley says ...
Can wait to hear the new compilations.
09/14/2011 8:50:53 PM CDT
Ed Pease says ...
Great just chillin music!!
09/14/2011 8:51:07 PM CDT
Teri Green says ...
I teach preschool and we listen to Putumayo Music almost everyday. I love playing it during activity time and the students love it! We especially love the Asian Dreamland CD! Thank you. Teri
09/14/2011 8:51:25 PM CDT
Arlene p. says ...
Chick music (such as Indigo Girls) and Eric clapton. Strange combo, but it would work. I love the different musics and beats.
09/14/2011 8:52:37 PM CDT
Mary in TN says ...
Love all the Putumayo tunes! They rock --
09/14/2011 8:52:51 PM CDT
deb keilen says ...
Every Putumayo CD is better than ever! Hope i win the box set!
09/14/2011 8:52:55 PM CDT
Ann Roadarmel says ...
I think that it is great that Whole Foods not only feeds the body but the soul as well.
09/14/2011 8:53:05 PM CDT
Scott Passin says ...
V.M. Bhatt and Ry Cooder on the CD: A Meeting by the River A blend of bottleneck guitar and East Indian instruments on the label Water Lily Acoustics. Absolutely Mesmerizing. Have a listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez-oEsg1uw0
09/14/2011 8:54:39 PM CDT
Lisa Dieken says ...
I've been looking for some new music and this sounds perfect! Thank you for your generosity!
09/14/2011 8:54:45 PM CDT
Peg says ...
Putumayo has done more to put world music on the charts than anyone. Their collaborations are always first rate.
09/14/2011 8:55:13 PM CDT
Gina DacQuisto says ...
I will be teaching a kindergarten classroom next year - I would love to have this for the children! Children have a particular love for music with strong rhythm and music from other cultures!
09/14/2011 8:55:28 PM CDT
Ben says ...
I am a fan of all the European and Caribbean CD's Putumayo has produced. Going to keep my fingers crossed for this set!
09/14/2011 8:56:43 PM CDT
Latoya B. says ...
This sounds great!
09/14/2011 8:57:03 PM CDT
Jeannie D says ...
"Milladoiro" Blending of Celtic and Spanish...Bliss!
09/14/2011 8:57:57 PM CDT
Jackie Muir says ...
Putumayo is always a sure bet!
09/14/2011 8:58:07 PM CDT
Nicole says ...
Have always loved phoebe snow & lady smith black mambazo's "people get ready"
09/14/2011 8:58:31 PM CDT
Heidi says ...
I would love to have these CDs for when I teach yoga- I'm a high school art teacher and I volunteer to teach yoga for the students after school.
09/14/2011 9:00:14 PM CDT
Jenni says ...
I enjoy when classics are given a modern twist. Is anyone else really enjoying Pop Lyfe on America's Got Talent? :-)
09/14/2011 9:01:07 PM CDT

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